Hello,
I had a small bowel obstruction last week. An NG tube was enough to make it possible to clear the obstruction. I have been depressed for a week, since being at the hospital. I am wondering if anyone else has experienced depression after something like this? could it be something else?
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I had one too Erin and OMG... Yes I was sooo damn depressed! I ended spending amount him the hospital! But it did finally open up! I was on an antidepressant for over a year and yes it helped. I started Cymbalta for the depression and the neuropathy. I'm not on it anymore but wouldn't hesitate to go in it again! Keep clear grape juice in the house. It's suppose to help with small bowel obstructions. I also started taking probiotics that has totally changed my life! They have to prescribed by your gastro... VSL3. It comes in powder form and I take it twice a day mixed with apple sauce. Feel better! Did you see a nutritionist before leaving the hospital? If not maybe you could inquire about one that has experience with Jpouch patients. Good Luck Erin and don't be shy! That's what we're all here for!��
Sorry just read what I wrote and it should have read... A month in the hospital.
A whole month?! Thank you for the advice. I am seeing my gastro in a week. I will talk to her about nutrition. I feel better physically just not mentally yet. I'm sure it will get better.
It will Erin ... Hang in there!!!!
It's natural to feel down and discouraged after a setback like this. Your mood may begin to improve as your start to feel physically well again. Generally speaking, depression is only treated if it is present and persistent for 2 weeks or longer, but if your symptoms are severe and not improving, or if this is not the first time you have felt depressed, then it may be worthwhile to speak to your GP about treatments and strategies. You may also want to check routine bloodwork - such as thyroid, iron, B12, vit D as all of these issues can contribute to mood problems.
I've had anxiety and depression at times too, related to my physical issues. In some ways, the mental aspect is worse than the physical. Hang in there.
I've had depression off and on for 22 years. Actually, that was when I was diagnosed with UC. Huh. I'm surprised that has not dawned on me before now. I think I might be having more of an issue with the possibility of something going wrong after having the J-Pouch for 19 years. I am actually starting to feel better physically and mentally each day.
Being sick is depressing... ugh!
Hi Erin,
Yes, depression is linked to illness (especially for us, UC is not one of those flashy, sexy diseases that you can talk about around the coffee table with friends...ours is a 'hide it in the closet' type of disease that makes matters so much worse morally and emotionally...having to hide both our pain and our embarrassment)...not being able to control your body, especially our bowels, our output is terrifying. Having had it 'fixed' with a pouch only to discover that nothing is ever really fixed but just 'adjusted to a new normal' makes it worse.
I consider each setback, blockage and occlusion a major insult to my independence. I am too active and alive to accept them as normal especially since they pop up out of the blue, throw my whole body into shut-down and leave me weeping in pain and misery...that in itself is depressing enough but add to that that it is not a one-time thing but a lifestyle and you have every reason to be depressed.
I have some useful fixes for my mood, most of them involve exercise, sports, taking back control of what I can, long walks (fine, long limps, lately), hysterical laughter on the phone with my best friend, absurd movies, sad music (very cathartic to get those 'good tears' flowing and getting the anxiety out) and good meals with friends and family.
I fight my depression anyway that I can, mostly by not allowing it to set in for too long...a good cry yes, a week in bed? No. Mind you, ice cream, chocolate, cake etc go a long way into helping me through some hard days...
Find what helps you and use it for all it is worth...dance til you drop, sing at the top of your lungs, scream, cry, yell at the Gods, but do not keep 'the sad' inside...let it out. The more 'out' it is the less sad you feel...Especially if this is situational depression and not clinical depression (may need meds for that one).
Sharon
skn69 posted:Hi Erin,
Yes, depression is linked to illness (especially for us, UC is not one of those flashy, sexy diseases that you can talk about around the coffee table with friends...ours is a 'hide it in the closet' type of disease that makes matters so much worse morally and emotionally...having to hide both our pain and our embarrassment)...not being able to control your body, especially our bowels, our output is terrifying. Having had it 'fixed' with a pouch only to discover that nothing is ever really fixed but just 'adjusted to a new normal' makes it worse.
I consider each setback, blockage and occlusion a major insult to my independence. I am too active and alive to accept them as normal especially since they pop up out of the blue, throw my whole body into shut-down and leave me weeping in pain and misery...that in itself is depressing enough but add to that that it is not a one-time thing but a lifestyle and you have every reason to be depressed.
I have some useful fixes for my mood, most of them involve exercise, sports, taking back control of what I can, long walks (fine, long limps, lately), hysterical laughter on the phone with my best friend, absurd movies, sad music (very cathartic to get those 'good tears' flowing and getting the anxiety out) and good meals with friends and family.
I fight my depression anyway that I can, mostly by not allowing it to set in for too long...a good cry yes, a week in bed? No. Mind you, ice cream, chocolate, cake etc go a long way into helping me through some hard days...
Find what helps you and use it for all it is worth...dance til you drop, sing at the top of your lungs, scream, cry, yell at the Gods, but do not keep 'the sad' inside...let it out. The more 'out' it is the less sad you feel...Especially if this is situational depression and not clinical depression (may need meds for that one).
Sharon
Sharon has made so many great points. Find the positives in your world and focus on those items. This is the only way of fighting back to this horrible disease and taking your life back! We are survivors, we've made it through hell. Take what's left of you and show the world how you can turn a negative into a positive!
I have suffered zillion small bowel obstructions, in one episode I need major surgery. The surgeon said I had one hour left, it almost killed me. He saved my life. It isn't easy, it never will be. Do not give in to this. Always fight for yourself, there is so much good to find in this world and so many other things to focus on. Even having this support group is a blessing.
Thank you very much everyone for the replies. They have all helped me tremendously.
Depression I understand. I have had obstructions, too, but mainly the long hospitalizations and N/G tubes were from Ileus, bowel not working at all, not obstructions. Is this the case with any of you?
hello Grandma J
I have heard the term ileus many times in my hospital travels :-)
but never really understood it properly. Here is a definition I just looked up:
I have had many NG tubes put in to help the blockage and I also had surgery for this situation in 1989. I was an hour away from death and the surgeon who operated on me saved my life. So yes, I do relate very well to your battles.
An ileus isn't really an obstruction, though it can cause similar symptoms. An ileus is when the bowel (or a section of it) temporarily stops pushing its contents through. If you try to put food or liquid in with nowhere to go the resulting pressure is painful. My post-op ileus lasted 10 days, which was more than enough for me.
